Automatic water cutoff and drain



Sept. 23, 1952 c. E. TALLY AUTOMATIC WATER CUTOFF AND DRAIN Filed Aug.'7, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HlII I'IHII l'i l IN VEN TOR.

C ZrZEQZzZZy m I b ATTD R N EYS Sept. 23, 1952 c 2,611,383

AUTOMATIC WATER CUTOFF AND DRAI N Filed Aug. '7, 1946 3 Sheets$heet 2 QQMg ATI'D RN EYS Sept. 23, 1952 c; E, TALLY 2,611,383

AUTOMATIC WATER CUTOFF AND DRAIN Filed Au. 7, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet s 1 81"W H INVENTOR.

ATTCI RN EYE Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT 10F FlCgEAUTOMATIC WATER CUTOFF AND'DR AIjN; Carl E. Tally, Cleburne, Tex. L1Application Augu t 7, 1946, SerialNo, 688,812

The invention relates to an automatic water control valve, and moreespecially to an automatic cut-off and drain mechanism.

In almost all water supply systems, business, residential orotherwisejthere is incommon use. a water cut-off or a stop-and-wastevalve, which is manually operated to cut off the water supply. andthereby open the waste vent in the valve. It is also the usual custom tomanually open all hydrants connected to such system, to afford drainagein sub-freezing weather. The primary object of the present invention isthe provision of a device or mechanism of this Character, wherein themanual operations are eliminated, and such operations are automatically,positively and simply completed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism or adevice of this character.

which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient inoperation, strong, durable, novel in construction, unique, in theassembly of its parts, which are few in number, and inexpensive tomanufacture and install. f

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a portion of thedevice constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side view thereof, with certain parts added, some partsbroken away and others in section. v

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a commodedrain adapted to be used with the device;

Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof.

1 Claim. (01. 137-61) Figure '7 is a sideview, partly broken away, of

another type of drain adapted for use with the device. V V

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, lookingin the direction of the arrows. v y

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a thermostat for association with thedevice. 7 Figure 10 is a side view thereof. Figure 11 is a side view ofa manually operated scissorslike control for the device.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 respectively are detail cross-sectional ,viewsthrough a valve,.form i ng part of the device, in different adjustedpositions. Figure 15 is a. fragmentarysideview of the hub portion of the'wei htbperating lever, I

, Figure 16 isa front view of'the'same;

Figure 17 is ase'ctional view |1l I of Figure 2." v Similar referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views inthe drawings. j v Referring to the, drawings in detail, I!) designates acut-off valve (or standard stop-andwaste valve) having a squared head IIto which is attached a lever l2 by a set screw l3. This lever i2 has atits opposite end an opening [4 throughwhich is fitted a bolt 15 formingconnection with a rod l6 through its apertured end IT. The otheraperturedend of the rod I6 has connection with the apertured'bifurcatedor forked cross-head 9 bya pin 2|, as shown more clearly in Figure l,with a washer 22 and a cotter pin 23 respectively. The cross-head I9 hasa guide bar 24 and at its baseatapped'aperturefor receivingthethreadedend 26 of apiston rod 2], locked by the set screw ,20.,[The pistonrod 21has a threaded tapered end/inserted in the piston 30 and secured to itby a nut 3! on the threaded end of the'ro'd-Z'l. i

The piston 30 is'slidable within a cylinder 33 and is fitted with theusualpistonrings or piston packing 34. The cylinder 33 is fitted with apacking nut 35 and a; packing 35 respectively. This cylinder 33 isclosed by a cylinder head 31 which is provided with the centralprojecting formation 40 having a recess for receiving the nut 3|, andthe external formation offthe projection 40 is nut shaped to facilitatethe applying and removing of the head'BL,

The-cut-ofi valve [0 has a nipple 4| (Figure 3) connecting with a T 42having connection at 43 with a city water-main or source of water supplynot shown. Also, the. opposite end of the valve lg has fitted thereto,two elbows 44 and 45 respectively, to off-set a pipe 46. to avoidcontact with a lever and its weight hereinafter described. The pipe 46is representative of the piping system to be protected by the device.

The elbow 45 has fitted thereto the pipe 46to the various outlets asdesired, and this pipe'46 has clamped thereto, as at 4'! and 48respectively, a supporting bracket 49, having one end formed as at 50,to receive a portion of the end and bottom of the cylinder 33, while theother end extends upward and forms a guide 5| for the guiding bar 24 tokeep the piston 30 from canting while in motion. a Y

The lever l2 carries arigid cross-arm 52'having at each end rigidprotruding pins53and 54, respectively, for the purpose of elevating theweight lever- 55 carrying a weight 56 having a taken on line is alaterally-projecting circumferentially-ex-- A lever 65 is heldrigidly onthe square head 63 by a set screw 61.

The upper end of the lever 65 carries a lateral lug- 68 (Figure 2)working in connection with stop lugs 69 and I0, respectively, carried oneither, side of the said lugv I58 by a connecting plate I havingconnection thereto by rivets I I, a square bar I2 to which are attachedas extensions thereof the bars I2 and 12", to be hereinafter described.The side edges I3 on the plate I0 slide vertically within a guide I5(Figure 2) having two opposing rollers H. The guide I5 is a two-piecebracket formed from pieces I6, 76' (Figure 17) each of which carriesrollers 14. The bracket pieces 16, 16 are formed around the larger endof the four-way valve body 6|, as at "in Figure 2 of the drawings, andsuch bracket piecesextend furtherdownward and have their lower portionsformedv around the smaller end of the'cut-off valve I0, as at I6. Thesaid bracket pieces I6 and I6, either forged or cast are held togetherby, the bolts19, and also function to hold the valve body I0, thefour-way valve body 6.I .andthe plate in alignment;

' The square bar "I2" (Figures 7 and 10-) forming a continuation of bar,I2 (see Figure 11') extends upwardly and at 80 is in threadedconnection' with a thermostat 8i. (Figures 9 and 10) formed of amultiple of discs 82 filledwith fluid, such as mercury, alcohol or othersuitable expanding and contracting fluid. Each disc 82 hastapped hubs83.' The bottom-most disc 02 is'threaded onthe end 80 of the bar 72".Short connecting threaded-studs 84 arethreaded to the stud 85 which hasits upper end held firmly to the bracket 16a by an adjusting nut 88below and another'adju sting n 1 1 t89 above the bracket, holding'thethermostat'at an adjusted position and I with it the bars 12, Iilf and12" which in turn "support the plate I0 carrying the stop lugs 69 and I0controlling thev pivotal movement of the lever 65' in itsswingigmovements in a manner to appear. The'bar 12, beingthermostatically controlled by 8| will-raise or lower plate I0 torelease the lug 58 on lever 65 to opera'te the fourway valveil ma mannerto b'e' explained.

Abracket 01 and the bracket 16aare held in rigid"verticalpositicn'by amember 95, preferably of wood, as, the same is non-expansive,

, 4 12" by a pivot pin 95' and its other end weighted by acounterbalance weight 96 for the purpose of counterbalancing the weightof the bars 12", 12', I2, 10 and all parts carried thereby. The squarebar I2 (Figure 3) extends upward from its lower end connection by therivets 'II with the plate 10', and ends with a pivot 99 which pivotallycarries the lower handle I00 being connected with another handle'IOIbymeans of a pivot pin I02. The handle. IOI, carries a pivot pin I03vertically opposite the pivot 99. The

,pivot pin I03 is fixed to the lower end of the square bar I2, (Figure3). The opposing handles I00 and' IN carry suitable hand grips I04 forapurpose to appear. The square bar I2 carries an alignment member I05(Figures 3 and 4) secured tothe said bar by rivets I05, the upper end ofthe member I05 being formed as a sleeve I01 for telescopically fittingover the lower end of the bar 12' as shown in Figure 3. The two handlesI00 and IM are provided with pins I08 which carry an expanding springI08, and the rivets I03 pivotally carry a pair of depending bars I09which are provided with slots I I0 within which are slidably receivedthe pivots 99. This allows the handles I00 and IM to be pivotedtowardseach other on pivot pins I02 by manually forcing the hand gripsI04 together. Reverse movement or separation of the handles I00 and IOIis limited by the lower end of each slot IIO coming in contact with therivet 99 by reason of the expanding force of the spring I08. The squarebar'l2' of Figure 3 extends upward terminating, as shown in Figure 11,in a pivot pin III upon which is pivoted the lower lever II2 having ahandle II2, forming one element of a scissors like element for movingbar 12" relative to bar 12'. To the oposite end of the bar 12" issecured by rivets I I9 an alignment member I I8 having a sleeve I20through which slides the lower end of the square bar 12", the end ofwhich is provided with a pivot pin II1 on which is pivoted thecomplementary-lever I I3, having a hand grip l I3, for the scissors-likeelement; The handles II2 andI I3 are'biased closed, as at I2I, by the'contractive flat spring I 22, fixed to the pivot pins III and Ill. Thebar-lengthening element formed by the levers I I2 and I I3 enters theresidence or other building immediately above the floor line through anadequate slot I24 and these levers are pivoted to the building bythepins II5, -I I6, respectively. The levers are manually operated,through an opening cut in the inner wall or base, not shown.

The bar 12 of Figure 11 continues upwardly and terminates in thethreaded end (Figures 9 and 10) which connects with the thermostatpreviously described. The pipe 46 continues to a conventional faucetdrain I3I. In place of the manually-operated drain I3I, the drain deviceof Figures '7 and 8 may be used. The pipe 46 is-attached to a Tconnection I3I' having a casing I32 within which a float l32 is caged bya cross wire I33 for controlling a port I34 in the upper end or capportion I35 of the casing I32.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a type of drainI36'fo'r use with the device or mechanism, and isespecially designed forcommode tanks or the like, not shown, and includes a swing valve I38pivoted at'I40" formed'with a temperatures. By adjustment of the nuts 88and 89 (Figures 9 and 10) the structure composed of the bars I2, I2 and12", and the plate I0 carrying the stop lugs 69 and I0 is initiallyadjusted relative to the side lug 68 on the lever 65. As shown in Figure3 of the drawings, the raising or lowering of this structure by the nuts88, 89 determines the relative initial position between the stop lugs69, I0 and the side lug 68. In Figure 3 the stop lug 69 is engaging theside lug 68. If for example the atmospheric temperature should drop to32 degrees, the thermostat 8i will contract and raise the plate 10,lifting the stop lug 69 above the side lug 68 to release it, whereuponthe lever 65 is free to be tilted, in a clockwise direction in Figure 3,by the lever 55, which is biased in a clockwise direction, shown inFigure 3, by the weight 53. The lever 55, as shown in Figures and 16,has the hub lug 58 initially in contact with the lug 58' on the stem ofthe fourway valve core 60 and actuates the four-way valve as the weightmoves clockwise from the position shown in Figure 3 downwardly until thelever contacts the pin 54 on the cross-arm 52 carried by the lever I2.In so moving downwardly, the lever 55 moves the four-way valve core fromclosed position, shown in Figure 12, to the left open position, shown inFigure 14 whereby water in the pipe I42, connected by the T 42 to pipe43,

enters the four-way valve through the top nipple I44 and leaves thevalve through side nipple I41 to enter the pipe I43 for application tothe right hand end of the cylinder 33 against the piston 30, actuatingthe piston rod 21 to move the lever I2 to the left in Figure 3approximately 90 degrees, whereupon the cut-off valve I0 is moved fromcut-on (shown in Figure 3) to a cut-off. As the valve In is turnedcounterclockwise in Figure 3 by the lever I2, the pin 54 is also raisedsince its arm 52 is carried by the lever I2. Raising of the pin 54 willthen lift lever 55 and its weight 55 past top vertical center, whereuponit will flop further to the left in Figure 3 by gravity to a positionapproximately 36 degrees beyond top center. At this point the lugs 58and 58 carried by the hub 51 on the lever 55 and the four-way valve core60 will come into contact, while the weight continues its fall to this36 degree position, and thus also moves the lever back to its startingpoint of Figure 3 whereupon its lug 6-8 will strike the stop lug 10which was raised when the thermostatic device 8| was contracted by thefall in temperature and lifted the plate I0 and its stop lugs 69 and 10.With stop lug III in the path of the side lug 68, it thus stops thefour-way valve core 60 at its cut-off position of Figure 12. The drainI3I allows any water in the water system represented by pipe 46 to bedrained off to prevent freezing of the water therein. The nipple I44 ofvalve casing 60 is open to the atmosphere to allow the water fromcylinder 33 to drain.

When the temperature rises about 32 degrees, the thermostatic device 8Iwill expand, causing plate I0 and its stop lugs 59 and 10 to drop. In sodoing, the lower stop lug I0 will free the lever 65 to complete itscounterclockwise movement, in Figure 3, under the influence of lever 55,to turn the valve core 60 to the position of Figure 13 whereupon water,already in pipe I42 will pass into the valve body BI, as heretofore,explained,

and not through nipple I52 into pipe I5I to force the piston 30 from theleft hand end of cylinder 33 to its right hand end causing valve I0 toopen to furnish water, for the piping system represented by pipes 46.When lever 65 is freed by lug I0 for counterclockwise movement, it fallsto the left in Figure 3 until it strikes pin 53. When valve la isopened, the parts resume the position shown in Figure 3.

The manually operated handles I00 and IBI are for raising the plate IIIto release the side lug 69 from contact with the lug 68 for a valve testoperation, prior to freezing weather. The other manually operated leversH2 and H3 (Figure 11) are for lowering'the plate I0 to release the sidelug 10 from contact with the lug 68 during subfreezing weather to obtaina supply of water, then when these levers are manually released, thedevice or mechanism will again out off the water and drain the pipesautomatically, as before described.

I claim:

In combination, a cut-off valve, a lever having one end connected tosaid valve and provided with an opening in its other end, a rod havingan apertured end arranged contiguous to said opening, a securing elementconnecting said apertured end to said lever, a crosshead mounted on saidrod, a guide bar extending from said crosshead, there being a tappedaperture in said crosshead, a piston rod having a threaded end engagingsaid tapped aperture, a cylinder, a piston reciprocably arranged in saidcylinder and mounted on said piston rod, a head closing an end of saidcylinder, a nipple extending from one end of said cut-ofi valve, a Tconnected to said nipple for receiving water from a source of supply, apipe leading from the opposite end of said cut-off valve, a bracketmounted on said pipe for supporting said cylinder, a portion of saidbracket forming a guide for said guide bar, a crossarm carried by saidlever, pins projecting from each of said crossarm, a weight leveradapted to be elevated by said pins and having a counterweight mountedthereon, a hub on said weight lever, a four-way valve body including acore having an end engaged by said hub, conduits leading from saidfour-way valve to said cylinder and to said T, thermostaticcontrol meanscoacting with said weight lever to operate said four-way valve core whenfreezing temperature exists, and manually operable means for actuatingthe four-way valve core independent of the thermostatic control means.

CARL E. TALLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 346,308 [Newman July 27, 1886365,258 Hurt June 21, 1887 368,674 Kent Aug. 23, 1887 874,089 LarkamDec. 17, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 70,102 France of 1915

